Importance of holidays for physical and mental health

Mexico is one of the countries that has the most work and the least vacations. In the Federal Labor Law (LFT) it is currently established that the vacation period must be at least 6 days once one year of work is completed, the vacations increase as the seniority increases, and an important aspect of this is that the worker is “obliged” to take said vacations. That is, unlike non-working holidays that can be worked for higher pay, holidays cannot be refused. The law does not allow holidays to be exchanged for high pay. At this point, we can highlight the importance that the LFT gives to the worker’s rest. However, why is it important to take vacations at least once a year? For those people addicted to work it may seem difficult to rest, there are those who consider that vacations are a waste of time and money, but in reality they are very necessary to keep our health in good condition both physical and mental. Even for those who truly love their work and consider themselves extremely active people, rest is very necessary. It should be remembered that we are humans, not machines, so we feel exhausted, and the best way to prevent it is with breaks. Symptoms and discomforts such as migraines, stomach pains, insomnia, irritability or others, are usually a sign that our body is tired and needs a break. The popular “burnout” or burnout syndrome is a disease that can be prevented from real vacations and breaks at least once a year. The problem of taking vacations is usually more inclined to the social aspect. At present there is a period of great speed and competition, so rest is sometimes seen as a waste of time or slack, workers consider that if they rest they are not doing enough. An example of this is Korean society, although it can also be noticed in others, such as Latin America. We recommend you read: It is important to understand that holidays are necessary, but especially smart holidays. That is, completely disconnect from work. Our brain needs respite and leisure time, as these elements help us to be more creative and productive once we get back to work. For this reason, always remember to give yourself time to rest and do things you are passionate about.



Original source in Spanish